road construction

The dangers that drivers face every time they are on the streets are numerous. Among them, construction sites are perhaps some of the most hazardous. That’s why driving cautiously is so important.

Here is how a construction site can be hazardous for drivers.

What Can Happen If You Don’t Practice Safe Driving Around Construction Sites

It’s obvious that road construction sites reduce the space used by drivers to move around, often redirecting traffic through narrow lanes that overlap when going around the construction site. If the construction site is not signaled correctly or if the driver ignores or misses the signs that warn about a construction zone ahead, disasters can happen.

Workers on road construction sites are exposed to traffic dangers and often fall victim to speeding or reckless drivers. Drivers and passengers often get hurt themselves when crashing with construction vehicles or other objects on a construction site, or when driving off the road trying to avoid them.

Rear bumping is also very probable if drivers do not increase the distance to the car ahead when driving through a construction zone. These are often minor accidents, but the damage caused by a minor crash is not easy on your wallet either.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the most fatal crashes occur in areas with speed limits higher than 50mph, and during the summer or fall months.

How to Prevent Accidents While Driving Through “Cone Zones”

The good news about accidents related to construction zones is that the vast majority of them are preventable. Here is what you can do to drive safely through cone zones:

• Limit your speed below the maximum allowed speed
• Follow the instructions on the road signs that signal a construction site, from the very first moment you see them
• Avoid going through construction zones if possible. There are several traffic apps that show you real-time events and alternative routes
• Follow instructions from construction workers when they are redirecting traffic
• Increase the distance between you and other cars
• Avoid changing lanes or do so after signaling in a timely manner
• Watch out for drivers who may not practice cautious driving

Preventing accidents in construction zones doesn’t take much effort from your part. All you have to do is follow the warning signs and traffic laws closely, and mind the other participants to traffic. Unfortunately, many drivers ignore these common-sense rules and that leads to worrying statistics each year. If drivers would take these statistics into account, we would probably have fewer casualties, injuries and property damage from construction site accidents.

Were You Injured?

If you were injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver you may be entitled to compensation. Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident attorney, present them your case, and let them represent your interests. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Roads under construction can often impose greater risk on both drivers and workers.

Ideally, you’d want to avoid these roads while the crewmembers are doing their jobs, but sometimes it is inevitable. If you have to commute daily, and the only road available is the one under construction, then the risk can be even greater.

Here is what you need to know about potential road construction accidents, and who can be held liable in case of an accident. For more details about your case, you should contact a St. Louis car injury lawyer.

What Are the Risks?

1. Limited Exits

When a road is under construction, then there are certain measures that must be taken to ensure the safety of the drivers, as well as the crew present on the road. One of these precautions is limiting the number of road exits, which can potentially slow traffic down considerably. If anyone ignores these blocked exits and tries to cut traffic, it could result in a collision.

2. Signage Issues

The areas under construction should be properly marked so that drivers know what is up ahead. However, these signs can sometimes be misplaced, or not entirely visible for drivers. One mistake in signage could increase the possibility of a car accident if the driver is taken by surprise and panics.

3. Debris, Uneven pavement, other Road Issues

The cause of the accident could be a mistake by the crew itself, such as causing an uneven pavement or leaving debris on the road that could come into contact with vehicles and make the drivers lose control.

Who Pays?

In these cases, you’ll need to first identify the responsible party. It can be the crew, the construction company, a governmental institution, or other drivers on the road.

In Missouri, multiple parties could be held responsible for the accident. This means you could be found partially at-fault as well.

However, the process for getting compensated is rather different, depending on the at-fault party.

For instance, if you seek compensation from another driver, then the process will most likely go through their insurance company. Typically with the help of an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney will file the injury claim and negotiate a settlement with the adjuster. When companies or public entities are liable, the matters are generally more complex, and it’s very likely to have to go to trial in order to receive compensation.